Sheet-transferring mechanism.



No. 707,72l.

Patented Aug. 26,- |902. G. F. READ.

SHEET TRANSFERRING MEGHANISM.

(Application filed Sept. 14,' 1901.)

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(No Model.)

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No. 707,72l. Patented Aug. 26, |902. G. F. REM- SHEET TRANSFERRING MECHANISM.

(Application filed Sept. 14, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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Uran STATES PATENT Fries.

GEORGE F. READ, OF NEN'V YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT HOE, OF NEW-YORK, N. Y.

SHEET-TRANSFERRING MECHANISM.

SPECEQFIICTION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,7 21, dated August 26, 1902.

i Application tiled September 14, 1901. Serial No. 75.398. (No modeld l To (tZZ whom, it may concern.:

Beit known that I, GEORGE F. READ, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Transferring Mechanism, fully described and represented in the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings, forming apart of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in sheet-transferring mechanism.

In Unit-ed States Letters Patent Nos. 650,542 and 650,543, granted May 29,1900, to R. Hoe it Oo. as the assignees of T. M. North, are disclosed certain improvements in sheettranferring mechanism. The mechanism shown in these patents employs, among other things, a sheet-transferring carrier, which is driven at a varying speed and which operates to take a sheet from a sheet-carrier running at one speed and to deliver it to a sheetcarrier running'at another speed, the varying speed of the transferring-carrier corresponding at times with the speed of each of the sheet-carriers.

The present invention has for its object to improve the constructions embodiedrin the patents before referred to, the particular improvements relating to the employment of pneumatic sheet-taking devices for the devices shown in the patents.

Vith this and other objects in View the invention consists in certain constructions, im-A provements, and combinations, as will be hereinafter fully described, and then particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l illustrates a sectional elevation of so much of aprinting-machine asis necessary to an understanding of the invention, certain parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, certain parts being broken away.

Referring-to the drawings, lindicates the frame of the machine, which may be of any desired construction'. In the mechanism in which the invention is embodied this frame serves to support shafts 56, which shafts serve to support a pair of cutting and collecting cylinders 57 5S. The shaft 55 is or may be provided (see Fig. 2) with a gear 59, by which it is driven, and the cylinder 57 is provided with a gear 60, which meshes with and drives a gear 6l, secured to the shaft 56. The cylinders 57 and 5S are provided With the usual cutting devices, andthe cylinder 57 is further shown as provided with the ordinary sheet-taking pins 62, which may be operated in any well-known manner. p

NVebs of paper W W V2, which are 0r may be printed upon by any usual printing mechanism, are shown as passing between a pair of drawing-olf rolls 63, which are provided with intermeshing gears 64, one of which is driven by means of au intermediate from the gear 60. The mechanism which has been chosen to illustrate the invention is designed to associate sheets cut from a web running at half speedvwith sheets from a Web'or webs runningat full speed. In the present instance the webs W XV W2 are the full-speed webs, and the half-speed web is indicated at Vtsaid web being shown as running over a guide 66, after which it passes between apair of cutting cylinders 67 68. The cylinder 68is provided with sheet-taking devices to be hereinafter described, and the sheet a fter being taken by these devices is delivered to sheet-taking devices, which will also be hereinafter described, on a transfer-cylinder 69, by Which'the sheet is delivered to the pins 62 on the cylinder 57 and associated with the sheets cut from the webs NV WV VW.

In the construction shown the cylinders 67 68 are driven from a pinion 70 on the shaft 55, said pinion meshing,r with an intermediate 7l, mountedon a stud secured to one of the side frames of the machine, this intermediate meshing With a gear 72 on the shaft of the cylinder 68. The shaft ot' the cylinder 67 is provided with a gear-73, which meshes With the gear 72, the lgears of the train being so proportioned that the cylinders 67 0S run at half the speed of the cylinders 57 58. The transfer-cylinder 6!) is driven at a varying speed by means of a pair of intermes'hing elliptical gears 74 75, the gear 74 being mounted on the shaft 55 and the gear 75 on the shaft of the cylinder 60.

The construction of the cylinders so far described and the mechanism for driving them IOO may be of any suitable description, that shown having been selected simply as a convenient means for illustrating the subjectmatter of the present invention.

In the patents to North before referred to the sheets on the half-speed web are taken by the pins lon the sheet-carrying cylinder which corresponds to the cylinder68, heretofore described, and is transferred to pins on the transfer-cylinder. According tothe present invention one or more of the sheet-carrying cylinders and the transfer-cylinder are or may be provided with pneumatic devices for taking the sheets. These pneumatic devices may be varied -within wide limits. As shown, however, the cylinder 68 is provided with a plurality of suction-channels 6, which may be integral with the cylinder, as shown,

. or maybe separate therefrom and secured thereto in any suitable manner. 'lhe outer walls of these channels arein the construction shown formed by cutting-blocks 5, said blocks being provided with suitable perforations 7, through which the suction acts. In the preferred form of the construction these channels 6 will be located near the periphery of the cylinder, although they might be otherwise located, if desired. Similarly the transfer-cylinder 69 is provided with suction-channels 6', which are or may be like those described in connectionwith the cylinder 68,

.except that the outer walls of the channels are formed by blocks 76, which have perforations 77, 4through which the suction acts on the sheets. The means by which suction is created in the channels 6 6' may be varied within wide limits. As shown, there are provided in connection with the cylinder 68 two heads 8, which may be supported in any suitable manner. These heads are shown as being supported by studs 77, which extend from the side frames of the machine. These heads are perforated, so as to permit the shaft of the cylinder to pass through them and are provided with air-chambers, which may be of any suitable configuration. As shown, the air-chamberin each of the heads is circular in form, said chambers being marked 13 and being formed by flanges which extend forward from the heads. These flanges are or may be shouldered, asshown, the shoulders engaging shoulders on the cylinder, so as to insure tight joints between the heads and the cylinder. It will be seen that the air-chambers lie along the path of movement of the cylinder, and the channels 6 are in open communication with them, except as hereinafter described. Similarly the channels 6' of the transfer-cylinder 69 are in open communication with cylindrical air-chambers 13', formed in heads 8', which are supported by studs 77'. While two chambers are shown in connection with each of the cylinders, it is obvious, of course, that one chamber might be used in connection Vwith each cylinder, if so desired.

They means by which the suction is created in the chambers 13 13' may be of any desired construction. As shown, however,two pipes 78 are provided, these pipes having branches 79, which communicate with the chambers 13, and branches 80, which communicate with the chambers 13'. The pipes 78 are in communication with any suitable form of suction device-as, forinstance, afan. (Not shown.) The suction-producing means operates continuously and is therefore continuously eX- hausting air from the chambers 13 13'. Inasmuch, furthermore, as the suction-channels 6 and 6' are in open communication with the air-chambers, except as hereinafter specied, it will be seen that as soon as a sheet of paper is brought in contact with either the cutting-blocks 7 or with the block76 it will be clamped to the cylinder and remain so until the suction is cut oi. The means by which the suction is cut off from the channels in order to release the sheet may be varied within wide limits. Preferably, however, these means will be carried by the heads and will be contained within the chambers, and,

furthermore, these means will preferably be adjustable so that the suction maybe cut 0E at any desired point. When, asin the preferred form of the'construction, the air-chambers are circular, the means for cutting off the suction from the channels will preferably consist of arc-shaped blocks. The arc-shaped blocks, which operate in connection with the chambers 13, are marked 22 and correspond in size with the cross-sectional area of the chambers, so that they entirely fill them. The blocks which coperate with the chambers 13' are marked 22', and also are arranged to entirely fill these chambers. As the cylinders rotate, therefore, it will be seen that as the mouths of the channels 6 or 6' come opposite the blocks 22 or 22' the suction will be cut off from the channels and will remain out off until the mouths of the channels have passed Ithe blocks. It is desirable that the blocks be made adjustable, so that the suction may be cut off at exactly the right point in the rotation of the cylinders. Any desired construction may be used to effect the adjustment of the blocks. As shown, each of the heads Sis provided with slots 23, and the blocks 22 carry pins 24:,Which are provided with suitable nuts 25. Similarly the heads 8' 'are provided with slots 23',and the blocks 22' carry pins 24',Which are provided with suitable nuts 25'. By loosening these nuts or either of them it will be Aseen that the blocks which they control may be so adjusted in the chambers as to control the exact point at which the suction is cut off in the channels.

The construction being as before described, it will be understood that as the cylinder 57 rotates sheets will be cut from the webs W W' W2 and taken by the pins 62 on said cylinder. As the web W3 passes between the cylinders 67 and 68 its forward edge will be clamped to the cylinder 68 by the operation of the suction acting through the perforations in the cutting-blocks 5. When the head of each IIO sheet in the rotation of the cylinder reaches the point where thesheet is to be transferred to the transfer-cylinder, the blocks 22 inter- `is so arranged as to cause the cylinder 69 at this time to run at the speed of the cylinder 68. After havingbeen transferred to the cylinder (i9 the sheet is carried around by this cylinder, which in the meantime has its speed accelerated by the elliptical gearing before referred to. When in the revolution of the cylinder the head of the sheet meets the pins 62 on the cylinder 57, the arc-shaped blocks 22 operate to cut off the suction from the channels 6', so that the sheet is transferred to the pins, it being understood that at this time the cylinders 57 and (59 are running at the same speed. The cylinder? is provided with the usual folding-off devices, which operate to direct the sheets thus associated between a pair of intergeared folding-rollers 8l, which are driven by a gear 2, mounted on one of the rollers, said gear meshing with the gear 60, before referred to. iVhile the construction which has been before set forth is an efficient one for carrying out the invention, it will be understood that it may be varied within wide limits. The invention is not, therefore, to be limited to the specific construction herein shown and described.

What is claimed isl. In a sheet-accelerating mechanism, the combination with a forwarding mechanism running at one speed, of a forwarding mechanism running at a different speed, a transferring mechanism between the two and arranged to run at a varying speed which at times corresponds to the speed of each of the forwarding mechanisms, said transferring mechanism including a sheet-carrier having a suction-channel and an air-cham ber lying along the path of movement of the carrier with which the channel is in communication, and adjustable means for interrupting the communication between the channel and the chamber, substantially as described.

2. In a sheet-accelerating mechanism, the combination with a forwarding mechanism running at one speed, of a forwarding mechanism running at a different speed, a transferring mechanism between the two and arranged to run at a varying speed which at times corresponds to the speed of each of the forwardingr mechanisms, said transferring mechanism including a sheet-carrier having a suction-channel and an air-chamber lying along the path of movement of the carrier with which the channel is in communication,

and an adjustable blocklocated in the chamber for interrupting the communication between the channel andthe chamber, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a sheet-carrier driven at a constant speed, said carrier having a suction-channel, of a sheet-carrier driven at a varying speed, said carrier having a suction-channel, an air-chamber for each of said carriers located along the path of movement thereof and with which the channel is in communication, and adjustable means for interrupting the communication between the channels and the chambers, whereby a sheet may be taken by the first carrier and delivered to the second carrier, substantially as described.

4. The combinationwith a sheet-carrier driven at a -constant speed, said carrier having a suction-channel, of a sheet-carrier driven at a varying speed, said carrier havingasnction-channel,an air-chamberforeach of said carriers located along the path of movement. thereof and with which the channel is in communication, and an adjustable block located in the chamber for interrupting the communication between the channels and the chambers, wherebya sheet may be taken by the first` carrier and delivered to the second carrier, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a cylinder driven at a constant speed, said cylinder having a suction-channel, of a cylinderdriven at a Varying speed, said cylinder having a suctionchannel, stationary heads having air-chambers with which the channels communicate, means for exhausting the air from the chambers, and an adjustable block located in each chamber for interrupting the communication between the channels and the chambers, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a sheet-carrier, of a second sheet-carrier, said carriers being constantly driven at different speeds, an intermediate transfer-carrier driven at a varying speed which corresponds at times `with the speed of one carrier and at times with the speed of the other carrier, said transfer-carrier having a suction-channel, anair-chamber with which said channel is in communication lying along the path of movement of the carrier, and an adjustable block in the chamber for interrupting the communication between the channel and the chamber, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a sheet-carrying cylinder having sheet-taking devices, of aseoond sheet-carrying cylinder having a suctionchannel, said cylinders being driven at different speeds, a stationary head having an air-cham ber with which said channel communicates, a transfer-cylinder located between the sheet-carrying cylinders and having a suction-channel, a stationary head having an airchamber with which said channel communi- IIO cates, and an adjustable block in each of the y chambers for interrupting the communication between the channels and the chambers, and means for driving the transfer-cylinder at a varying speed which corresponds at ti mes with the speed of each of the sheet-carrying cylinders, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a sheet-carrying. Acylinder driven at a constant speed, said c ylinder having a suction-channel, of a cylinder driven at a varying speed which corresponds at times with the speed of the carrying-cylinder, said cylinder having a suction-channel, air-chambers with which the suction-channels are in communication, a suction-pipe, connections from said pipe with each of the chambers, and means forinterrupting the communication between the suction-channels and the air-chambers, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a sheet-carrying cylinder driven at a constant speed, said cylinder having a suction-channel, of a cylinder driven at a varying speed which corresponds at times with the speed of the carrying-cylinder, said cylinder having a suction-channel, air-chambers with which the suction-channels are in communication, a suction-pipe, con nections from said pipe with each of the chambers, and means in the chambers for interrupting the communication between the suction-channels and the air-chambers, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a sheet-carrying cylinder driven at a constant speed, said cyl- 'inder having a suction-channel, of a cylinder driven at a varying speed which corresponds at times with the speed of the carrying-cylinder, said cylinder having a suction-channel, air-chambers with whi'ch the suction-channels are incommunication, a suction-pipe, connectionsfrom said pipe with each of the chambers, and an adjustable block in each chamber for interrupting the communication between the suction-channels and the airchambers, substantially as described.

1l. The combination with a sheet-carrying cylinder driven at aconstant speed, said cylinder having a suction-channel, of a grooved head with which said channel is in communication, a cylinder having a suction-channel, a grooved head with which said suction-channelis in communication, said second cylinder being driven at a varying speed which at times corresponds with the speed of the sheetcarrying cylinder, asuction-pipe, connections from said pipe to the groove in each of the heads, and means for interrupting the communication between the grooves and the channels, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a sheet-carrying cylinder driven at a constant speed, said cylinder having a suction-channel, of a grooved head with which said channel is in communication, a cylinder havinga suction-channel, a grooved head with which said suction-channel is in communication, said second cylinder being driven at a varying speed which at times corresponds with the speed of the sheetcarrying cylinder, a suction-pipe, connections from said pipe to the groove in each of the heads, and means inthe grooves for interrupting the communication between the grooves and the channels, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a sheet-carrying cylinder driven at a constant speed, said cylinder havinga suction-channel, of a grooved head with which said channel is in communication, acylinderhavinga suction-channel, a grooved head with which said suction-channel is in communication, said second cylinder being driven at a varying speed which at times corresponds with the speed of the sheetcarrying cylinder, a suction-pipe, Coline@- tion from said pipe to the groove in each of the heads, and au adjustable block in each groove for interrupting the communication between the grooves and the channels, substantially as described.

14. The combination with a sheet-carrying cylinder having sheet-taking devices, of a sheet-carrying cylinder having a suctionchannel, means for driving these cylinders at different speeds, a transfer-cylinder having a suction-chan nel, said cylinder being arranged between the two sheet-carrying cylinders, grooved heads, the grooves of which are in communication with the suction-channels of the sheet-carrying cylinder and thetransfercylinder, a suction-pipe, connections from said pipe to the grooves in the heads, an adjustable block in each groove for interrupting the communication between the channels and the grooves, and means for driving the transfer-cylinder at a varying speed which corresponds at times with the speed of each carrying-cylinder, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE E. READ. Vitnesses:

F. W. H. CRANE, L. ROEHM.

IOO 

